Agroeca proxima

Description

Body length male: 3.8 to 5 mm. Body length female: 5.2 to 7.5 mm. Opisthosoma brown-grey to light yellow-brown with distinct chevrons. 

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the size and identifying characters.

Habitat

This nocturnal hunter is ground living with a preference for fairly dry habitats amongst leaf litter, grasses, heather and other low vegetation. It is one of the commonest species on heathland.

When to see it

Adults of both sexes are found mainly in late summer and autumn, occasionally into late winter and spring with females persisting into the summer.

Life History

The species produces distinctive egg sacs, which are probably noted more often than the adults. The egg sacs are shaped like an upside down wine glass, and are hung from any vegetation, including the trunks and lower branches of trees. They are often covered with debris by the female, which helps to camouflage them.

UK Status

The species is widely distributed throughout Britain and fairly common.

VC55 Status

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Spiders
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Araneae
Family:
Liocranidae
Records on NatureSpot:
6
First record:
03/06/1992 (Jon Daws)
Last record:
24/08/2021 (Cann, Alan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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